with Matt Kredich,University of Tennessee Head Coach;2008 SEC Women's Coach of the Year, 4x Ivy League Coach of the Year

Learn how to generate maximum speed and power by applying every possible force to the water!

ON DECKMatt Kredich begins by discussing the physics of drag in the breastroke. Using a Vasa Trainer, he discusses the challenges of arm and leg movement in the stroke and the importance of connecting this movement with proper body positioning and timing.

Specifically, he discusses the importance of low drag in the glide phase of the stroke vs. achieving maximum drag forces in the propulsive phases of the stroke. Kredich makes the science simple with his easy to understand descriptions and on-deck demonstrations.

A unique Swiss ball exercise demonstrates the importance of engaging the core during the pull phase to help the swimmer hold a great body line in the water. Utilizing a boxing glove drill to train the "lunge" recovery phase, Kredich demonstrates how to move the arms forward in a straight line by engaging the hips and core to allow the swimmer to better explode forward with greater power.

In the Kick segment, Kredich again uses a Vasa Trainer demonstration to teach all aspects and nuances of a great breaststroke kick. Kredich moves into the weight room for a demonstration on body positioning and how to assist a swimmer to develop a tall straight line posture in the water. This includes an evaluation of hip flexor flexibility and how to stretch tight hip flexors to assist in attaining a much straighter body line in the water.

IN THE POOLKredich starts with three drills that he feels help develop a highly efficient kick. Connecting a vertical kick drill to the pulling movement, Kredich has his demonstrators perform vertical pulling with kicking, which forces explosiveness in the stroke and kick and quickness and efficiency in the arm recovery into streamline.

Kredich adds three drills that work to connect the kick to body position and work the timing of the kick. Kredich moves into the pull phase of the stroke with two pull-isolation drills that forces the swimmer to maximize forward momentum from every single pull. Kredich brings the recovery into focus with three specific drills to train a fast, efficient and forward focused recovery action. He follows with a pull efficiency drill that heighten the sensation of the pull with increased resistance on the arms.

In the Breaststroke pullout segment, Kredich discusses the strategies of where best to implement the dolphin kick that is allowed in the pullout. His teaching includes isolating the actual dolphin kick before connecting it to the entire pullout. Focus areas of the Kredich-taught pullout include a strong streamline, early dolphin kick, a pulldown that vaults the body forward and a tight recovery with a strong kick into the breakout stroke.

Kredich has his demonstrators perform full stroke swimming of the breaststroke that highlights all of the skill set areas covered in building the entire stroke. With demonstrations from a male and two female elite level breaststrokers, you will get a contrasting look at varying styles of the stroke that all incorporate the same technical aspects.